Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2007 Nov;14(2):129-135. 10.14776/kjpid.2007.14.2.129.

Clinical characteristics of Kikuchi disease in children

• Chung S
• Park S
• Lee K
• Song J
• Han M
• Choi Y
• Cha S
• Park Y

• KMID: 2439945
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/kjpid.2007.14.2.129

Abstract

PURPOSE
Kikuchi disease is a subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis characterized by fever, cervical lymphadenopathy and benign self-limiting course in young women especially, but rare in children. Their etiopathology is still unknown, but involved viruses and autoimmune mechanism were proposed. We investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Kikuchi disease in children.
METHODS
Five patients were diagnosed of Kikuchi disease from January 2001 to June 2006 in Kyunghee University Hospital. We reviewed their medical records retrospectively and analyzed clinical and laboratory findings.
RESULTS
The mean age of 5 patients (male to female ratio; 2:3) was 9 yr 9 mon(range: 8 yr 2 mon-12 yr 6 mon). The chief complaints were sustained fever and cervical lymph node that was unilateral, tender and swollen. All patients were treated with antibiotics before diagnosis was made, and rash developed in 2 patients. One patient showed necrotic change in ultrasound with which we suspected Kikuchi disease. Three patients were examined by CT scan additionally. The interval between admission and cervical lymph node excisional biopsy ranged from 6 days to 15 days, and mean period was 9.6 days. All pathological findings were compatible to necrotizing lymphandenitis.
CONCLUSION
Unnecessary laboratory and imaging studies, and treatment with antibiotics tend to be done before making diagnosis, and that caused prolonged hospitalization. Therefore we studied the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Kikuchi disease in children.

Keyword

Kikuchi disease; Clinical characteristics; Children

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biopsy
Child*
Diagnosis
Exanthema
Female
Fever
Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis*
Hospitalization
Humans
Lymph Node Excision
Lymph Nodes
Lymphadenitis
Lymphatic Diseases
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ultrasonography
Anti-Bacterial Agents